THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE ELECTORATE should demand of all political parties, that they sign off immediately on a promise not to dismiss any person from their job, following their victory at the polls. A man's right to work is as sacrosanct as his rights to prosperity.
As a person dismissed from my job soon after the 1980 elections, on the basis that I (a qualified lawyer then) supported the losing party, I have felt the pain from the hurt of being jobless. My positions as Company Secretary/Legal Advisor at the Airports Authority of Jamaica was declared redundant (sic) in 1981. My child was one-year-old then, I was the only income earner in the household and I was not due a dollar by way of redundancy payments having served under two years in the position.
What I recall, which makes the whole matter so ridiculous, is that I was recommended by a fellow lawyer who was not only a supporter of the new Government who kicked me out but a candidate in the following elections for the said administration.
So please let us never repeat the hurt follows on victimisation based on supposed political affiliation.
I am etc.,
BERT S. SAMUELS
Duke Street
Kingston
